popular culture workshop
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A Pre-Departure Orientation Programon Contemporary British Culture
British Pop Culture in the 21British Pop Culture in the 21stst CenturyCentury
Be UK Hip!Be UK Hip!
Popular Culture in the U.K.
IntroductionIntroduction
Popular Culture in the U.K.
Pop MusicMediaBritish Society & Royal FamilyRugby & FootballImmigrant CommunitiesRaffle Prizes
Manic Pop Thrill:Manic Pop Thrill:
A Popular Music MiscellanyA Popular Music Miscellanyfrom the U.K.from the U.K.
Music ContinuumMusic Continuum
International Pop
(they wish)
British Mainstream
British Alternative
Kylie, Robbie, etc.Libertines, Stereolab, etc.
Folk and Underground (punk, etc.)
Robbie WilliamsRobbie Williams
KylieKylie
Music ContinuumMusic Continuum
International Pop
(they wish)
British Mainstream
British Alternative
Kylie, Robbie, etc.Libertines, Stereolab, etc.
Folk and Underground (punk, etc.)
The LibertinesThe Libertines
StereolabStereolab
Angelic UpstartsAngelic Upstarts
New Musical ExpressNew Musical Express
Music ContinuumMusic Continuum
International Pop
(they wish)
British Mainstream
British Alternative
Kylie, Robbie, etc.Libertines, Stereolab, etc. Folk and Underground
(punk, etc.)
Roy BaileyRoy Bailey
OysterbandOysterband
ChumbawambaChumbawamba
Media: The Pulse of Pop Culture
Television
Newspapers
Magazines
Radio
BBC and PBS
BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation TV and radio Funded by annual TV tax of ~$229 USD 10 year government charter Next charter review in 2006 No advertisements Known worldwide
PBS = Public Broadcasting System Funded by US federal appropriations Politically charged and politically dependant
Television
“Telly” or “the box”ExplicitBable: SKY, NTL, ITVFollowing celebrities &
shows
Popular Programs
East Enders – evening drama, working class story
Coronation Street – longest running evening drama
Reality TV – Pop Idol, Big Brother
Game Shows – Weakest Link
West Wing, Friends, Sex in the City
Newspapers
Guardian v. Telegraph
Media & Social Class
“Class is to the UK, what race is to the US.”
US v. UK characterization
“Posh”
Media choices can tell a story
Tabloids
Radio & Magazines
The New Statesman Economist Spectator Private Eye TimeOut Hello, OK!
UK News – Know before you go!
NU Library Newsstand on Main & Chicago Borders / Barnes & Noble Your homepage
Read multiple sources Know US news too!
British Society & the Royal Family
Are we subjectsAre we subjectsor citizens?or citizens?
British Society & the Royal Family Headline on the BBC website: “Are we
subjects or citizens?” (21 January 2005) OED Dictionary: “A subject is someone ‘under
dominion of a monarch...A citizen however is someone who does have rights.”
“While we are legally subjects because there isn’t a piece of paper that says otherwise, the sweep of history generally finds that we are citizens.”
Questions
Who are the members of the Royal Family?
What sort of place do they hold in British society?
What can we learn about British society today from the Royal Family?
The House of Windsor
Who are the British Royals? Queen Elizabeth II
(born 1926; ascended 1952)
The Queen is the Head of State and the Head of the Church of England
“The Queens Speech” at Christmas
Queen’s Jubilee - 2002 Queen celebrated 50
years of rule in 2002
Lots of bridges and
monuments
throughout the
country named in
recognition of the
Jubilee
Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen’s husband
Duke of Edinburgh
Dour
Charles, Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Future king Husband of Diana
and now Camilla Parker-Bowles
Father of William and Harry
Gardens, hunts, paints
Andrew, Duke of York
Charles’ brother; Father of Beatrice and Eugenie
Edward and Sophie, Duke & Duchess of Wessex
Charles’ brother and sister-in-law
Order of the British Empire Highest
civilian honor awarded in Britain
Sir Elton John David
Beckham, OBE
What do British people think ofthe Monarchy?
Many, but not all, British people have frustrations with the monarchy.
A BBC Poll: Is the monarchy out of date?
Yes: 41% No: 57%
Does the Royal Family cost too much money? Yes: 44% No: 54%
British Opinion Continued… Monarchy seen as a source of international
good will and a traditional symbol
Also a lasting tradition As recently as January 2005, the government
faced down a proposal to change the 18th
century Act of Settlement
Value of traditions in Britain most likely
higher than in the United States
But... Tradition or Trash?
Royal blunders in the tabloid press E.g. Prince
Harry caught wearing a Nazi costume
Blurring the Line with Celebrity Culture
“American” royalty are usually thought of as our celebrities, our richest people
But this is starting to happen in modern Britain, too.
E.g. “Posh and Becks”
The Hooligan’s GameThe Hooligan’s GamePlayed by GentlemenPlayed by Gentlemen
Rugby UnionRugby Union
Rugby Rules!Rugby Rules!
22ndnd sport of England and Scotland – “middle sport of England and Scotland – “middle class” – 1class” – 1stst in Wales and played by all. in Wales and played by all.
England current world champions (Wilkinson England current world champions (Wilkinson and Woodward in press).and Woodward in press).
6 Nations championship involves Scotland, 6 Nations championship involves Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. England, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. Perfect DayPerfect Day
No forward passes!No forward passes! Rugby Union’s rules at Rugby Union’s rules at
http://www.334notout.com/rugby/rules.htmhttp://www.334notout.com/rugby/rules.htm
Britain’s PastimeBritain’s Pastime
Cultural QuizCultural Quiz
You and your mates decide to have a You and your mates decide to have a game of football in the park. What do you game of football in the park. What do you need to take?need to take?
(a) A ball(a) A ball(b) A ball and 2 coats(b) A ball and 2 coats(c) A leather egg, 50 crash helmets, 4 tons of (c) A leather egg, 50 crash helmets, 4 tons of
body armour, 20 cheerleaders, a marching body armour, 20 cheerleaders, a marching band with a grand piano on a trolley, and a band with a grand piano on a trolley, and a team of orthopaedic surgeons.team of orthopaedic surgeons.
Enormous PopularityEnormous Popularity
The “pick-up game” (adults and children).The “pick-up game” (adults and children). Popularity of amateur game (excuse to Popularity of amateur game (excuse to
booze?).booze?). The The pub subject.pub subject. Importance of local teams and Importance of local teams and derbiesderbies
(Tottenham Vs Arsenal, Rangers Vs (Tottenham Vs Arsenal, Rangers Vs Celtic, Cardiff Vs Swansea).Celtic, Cardiff Vs Swansea).
The League,The League, The Cup and Europe The Cup and Europe
Premiership and three other “divisions”. 3 Premiership and three other “divisions”. 3 up, 3 down tradition, points system.up, 3 down tradition, points system.
All-encompassing English FA Cup.All-encompassing English FA Cup. European Champions’ League (4 from European Champions’ League (4 from
England).England). Differing “national leagues”.Differing “national leagues”.
Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations
Importance of local teams and the “gear” Importance of local teams and the “gear” (compare to high-school games in USA).(compare to high-school games in USA).
Ubiquitous cultural icons (Beckham, Ubiquitous cultural icons (Beckham, Ferguson, Wenger, Keegan, Thierry Ferguson, Wenger, Keegan, Thierry Henry!)Henry!)
Importance of England’s national side.Importance of England’s national side. Minor possibility of hooligans and racism.Minor possibility of hooligans and racism.
Familiar Faces of FootballFamiliar Faces of Football
SOME OTHER LONDONERS
Immigrants & Multiculturalism
Art work developed by UK multicultural group of young adults for a project dealing with issues of culture and identity, commonality and
difference in an inner city area fraught with racial tension.
The First Black Londoner?John Blanke, African Trumpeter,
at Westminster Tournament (1511)
Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780)
Writer and musicianfrom portrait by
Thomas Gainsborough
Mary Seacole (1805-1881)Nurse during Crimean war, wrote memoir
Hindu Tract Seller
Joe CloughLondon Bus Driver (1908)
Indian Suffragettes
African Pygmies in Westminster (1905)
West Indian arrivants in
Clapham Air Raid Shelter
Louise Bennett
“To Let” Sign (Notting Hill)
S.S. Empire Windrush,with passengers
West Indians arriving at Waterloo Station
Lord Kitchener (2nd from left) and Bandin London Session;
singing “London is the Place for Me” (1951)
Jamaican immigrants perusingthe tube map
Linton Kwesi Johnsonperforming “Inglan Is a Bitch” (1980)
Sikhs sheltered in crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields during the Blitz
Christ Church, Spitalfields
East End
Stencil Graffito (Spitalfields)
Brick Lane
Spitalfields Market
Pub, Brick Lane (Spitalfields)
Still from Hanif Kureishi’s London Kills Me
Popular Culture in the U.K.
Are you UK HIP?Are you UK HIP?
Quiz & RaffleQuiz & Raffle
The Guardian and The Times share the same political viewpoint. True or False.
Are you UK HIP?
FALSEThe Times is conservative and
the Guardian is left wing and less traditionalist.
What type of tax do British citizens pay to fund the BBC?
Are you UK HIP?
TV TaxTV owner pay an annual tax of
$150US which supports the BBC.
Who are Posh and Becks?
Are you UK HIP?
Victoria and David Beckham(Formerly) Posh Spice and England’s football star, a.k.a. celebrity royalty
According to the 2001 census, approximately what percentage of the population in London is made up of ethnic minorities (non-white)? How about in the UK overall?
Are you UK HIP?
28.9% and 7.9%
The Welsh love a good game of __________?
Are you UK HIP?
Rugby (rules)!
Please join us for the next ‘Mind the Gap’ Please join us for the next ‘Mind the Gap’ session:session:
Hogwarts & Oxbridge? Hogwarts & Oxbridge? British Education from A to ZBritish Education from A to Z
Wednesday, May 4Wednesday, May 4
What’s Next?
Same time & placeSame time & place